The Tropical Fruit Forum

I get that it's probably squirrels that are stripping the way immature fruits off my MEXICOLA GRANDE tree.

But what would take a hard green half-grown mango?  The cultivar is ICE CREAM and both this and last year my half-grown fruits vanished well before they were ripe.  I doubt it's humans that swiped them since the fruit was not visible from the street and the fruit didn't just fall off because it was nowhere to be found.

Could it be 'possums?  Don't think it would be racoons because I have not seen any around here in a long time.

In any event it's a mystery to me.

Regards,

Paul M.
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Gentle TFF Members,


In observance of National Limerick Day* today, here's
something I wrote for our TFF members' amusement:


There's tastier fruits than the litchi,
And many of those are just peachy,
. . Plus there's many a time,
. .That I've tasted key lime,
But I've never tried an ogeechee!


CHEERS!

Paul M.
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* National Limerick Day is celebrated on May 12th and commemorates the birthday
of Edward Lear (1812–1888), the English writer of nonsense poetry and limericks.
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Gentle TFF Members,

Here is a link to an article about Del Monte's new pink pineapples that I found in the TicoTimes, an online Costarrican Newspaper and which I thought some of our TFF members might be interested to read:

The Del Monte Pink Pineapples of Costa Rica

https://ticotimes.net/2022/02/21/the-del-monte-pink-pineapples-of-costa-rica

Granted it is a promo for these 'new' pink piñas, but there are a few bits of interesting infromation on them in the article that I had not heard about before.

¡Pura Vida!

Paul M.
Zone 9b
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Gentle TFF Members,

Since there always seems to be a lot of discussion about mango cultivars on this group I was hoping to get some feedback from the members about any mango cultivars which are considered dwarf or semi-dwarf trees and which would be suitable for zone 9b.

I have these four cultivars now:

Beverly
Faiechild
Ice Cream
Irwin's

Are these decent choices for dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties?

What other cultivars would you recommend which are touted as dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties?   (Someone already suggested Pickering.)

I plan to keep my manngo cultivars pruned to about eight feet max.

TIA

Paul M.
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Now with 'TS Elsa' about to bring a bunch of rain to us here in west central Florida, I am wondering how all that water may affect the ripening of my 'Ice Cream' mango fruit....  And whether it might cause any change in their flavor.

There are two fruit remaining hanging on my 6-ft tall plant, each about 3.5 to 4-inches in diameter, both still a pale green color.  Haven't seen any change in color of the skin of either fruit in the last days.  What should I be looking for as an incidator that these are ready to pick?

Anyone here in 9b growing 'Ice Cream' and have some observations on this, please...

TIA

Paul M.
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THIS QUESTION MOVED TO TFF DISCUSSION PAGE BY O.P.- q.v.

Does anyone know for certain whether Garcinia hombroniana is synonymous with G. celebica? My research is inconclusive on this point.

And even if they are considered synonymous, are there any physiical differences because they are different regional races of the same species?

Enquiring minds and all that . . . .

Paul M.
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How should ilama seeds be treated before planting for best germination, if:

1]  they are very recently harvested (within a mont or two), or . . .

2]  if they were harvested the previous season (like three or four months earlier)?

Is a hot water soak advised and allowing them to remain overnight soaking after the hot water has cooled down?

Or should they just be planted and trust to luck?

Enquiring minds and all that ...

Paul M.
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(snip) Do they ripen and taste normal? Perhaps these could generate as much interest as the Egg of the Sun mangos??

How does the 'Egg of the Sun' cultivar fit in with the deformed or bizarrely shaped mangos discussed in an earlier thread?

Isn't 'EotS' cultivar the same as 'Irwin'?  Somewhere I read that 'Irwin' is 'the most expensive mango in the world'.  Why would that be the case.  I cannot find anywhere where it explains why.

Just curious . . .

Paul M.
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As Pouterias go how do these stack up for ease of culture in 9b and
for quality/flavor of fruit?:

Ross  /  Butterscotch  /   Alano  /  etc.

VS

Pouteria viridis

Just curious.

Paul M.
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Just ordered several seedling of this species.  So, were four seedlings enough? 

I recently read that this species is dioecious but am now wondering whether the species is strictly so, or whether some individuals produce perfect fowers –or maybe in some casses produce flowers of each sex together on one individual?

Enquiring minds and all that rot.

TIA

Paul M.
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The one fruit on my Canistel, a 'Trompo' fell off sometime Monday during a rain storm and I found it lying on the leafmulch in the flower bed next to the tree.  The stem end of the fruit had split a little and a of bit old, wet leafmulch got into the little splits in the skin near where the stem had separated.

Took the fruit into the house and gently rinsed the leaves off the fruit and put it into the 'fridge.  But I am not sure that it should be left in the 'fridge overnight.  The 'fridge is set about about 40ºF.

The fruit is quite soft so I wasn't comfortable leaving it out on the kitchen table cuz I don't want it to go bad on me.  There doesn't seem to be any latex apparent due to the skin breaks, so I guess that means that it is ripe.  But maybe if it is wrapped loosely in some soft paper toweling it can be left out on the table overnight.

This is the first canistel that I've had ripen on the tree and it fell off sooner than expected.  Need to know the best way to keep it 'till it is ready to eat.  The skin is bright yellow with just the very slightest hint of orange color. 

Will I need to use it quickly?  How soon??

Comments?  Suggestions??

TIA

Paul M.
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